Hell of a row over 5-year-old

Hell of a row over 5-year-old

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Regarding claims that Christians are being unfairly treated because a child and her parent were questioned over an incident in a Devon school where a 5-year-old told a classmate she would "go to hell" if she did not believe in God, Simon Barrow of the religion and society thinktank Ekklesia commented:

"Before shouting 'persecution' Christians need to reflect much more seriously on how they would feel if their children received similar treatment by non-believers or those of other faiths, and the school tolerated it.

"The issue here seems to be that one young child frightened another. It is surely right that behaviour of this kind is respectfully challenged. I am sure the great majority of Christian parents will want to encourage children to speak with love and respect, rather than condemnation, towards others."

Randy Klassen, What Does the Bible Really Say About Hell? Wrestling with the traditional view (Cascadia, 2001) - http://tinyurl.com/c5hgbf[7]

An Anabaptist scholar and pastor examines carefully all significant references to hell in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, showing that none provides clear evidence for the commonly held view of hell - which turns out to be contrary to the central message of Jesus and the Gospels.